Builders around the country will create a bike tailored to you body and riding style. But before you sink money into a custom cycle, read this.

Many people think bicycle selection is limited to what's available at their local sporting goods store or bike shop, and they get stuck with bikes that don't fit properly or meet their needs. It doesn't have to be that way. Across the country, bike builders are creating custom rides to fit their clients' preferences and body types.

Most custom builders specialize in a specific type of frame material. California-based Craig Calfee is world renowned for his carbon-fiber composite frames. Roark's Kevin Smeltzer, based in Indiana, has built custom titanium bikes for comedian Robin Williams, Papa John's Pizza founder John Schnatter, and two-time Ironman world champion Tim DeBoom. Nick Frey of Boo Bicycles of Fort Collins, Colo., makes incredible bikes out of bamboo. Steel-frame advocates, such as master builder Richard Sachs, tout its stiff ride quality, durability, and life span at an affordable cost. Many builders work with steel tubing that's nearly as light, but more durable, as the high-end carbon-fiber race frames you see at the Tour de France.

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If you're thinking of buying a custom-built bike, here are a few tips:

1. Know what you want, and find someone who specializes in it.

A road bike has different geometry than a mountain bike, which in turn has different dimensions than a long-distance touring bike. If you want a steel road or cyclocross bike, Tim O'Donnell of Shamrock Cycles is your man. But if you're looking for a track bike, O'Donnell would suggest a builder with more experience with that kind of bicycle, such as Louisville's Don Walker. You're making a substantial investment, so do your research before putting down a deposit.

2. Know what you like and don't like about your current bike.

As you ride, pay close attention to your bike's performance. When you ride over rough pavement, do your teeth chatter or does your bike soak up road vibration? When you make a sharp turn, do you easily glide through the corner, or does it feel like you're piloting a city bus? Are your back muscles and joints fatigued after a long ride? A good builder can take what you love about your old bike and minimize the things you hate.

3. Be a partner, not just a customer.

Each custom-built bike should begin with a conversation. The builder should ask about your likes and dislikes about your current bike, what you're looking for in a new ride, and more. Depending on where you live relative to the builder, he may take multiple measurements of you or have you send them to him via email. If you're local, he may ask you to join him on a ride so he can observe your pedaling style firsthand.

During the design process, give as much feedback and input as possible. O'Donnell estimates he exchanges up to 40 emails or phone calls with each customer during a bike build. He painstakingly goes through each bike's dimensions, explaining his design and how it will make for a better ride. During the build, O'Donnell sends frequent photo updates of the bike at each stage of the process.

"I want people to know we're a team, that I've got them covered," he tells PopMech. "I've never had a customer who didn't like the way the bike rides. I lose sleep about that every time. If it happens one day, we'll just pack up the bike and go back to square one."

4. Know your budget, and be upfront about it.

Folks who haven't browsed in a bike shop in years may suffer sticker shock. Shamrock frames, for example, typically start at $2000, with components and wheels adding $3000 or more. But you also receive a high level of service. If your budget is tight, you can always make concessions. Go with mechanical components instead of electronic, caliper brakes rather than disc, or hold off on the bike until you can save more money.

5. Know exactly what you're getting.

It might seem obvious, but don't custom order a steel bike if you've never ridden a steel bike. If you think you might be interested in a particular kind of bike, ask around to see if anyone in your cycling community owns one you can borrow for a test ride.